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Chapter 10 -- A Secret Revealed
Reaching in, Neville slowly grabbed the memory and pulled it out from the hidden shelf behind Lily's portrait. It was very cool to the touch, almost as cold as ice, as Neville just stood there, holding the memory and staring at it with the most lost look on his face. It was Harry who finally snapped Neville out of his trance.
"Ummm Nev, I think Lily would like to return to her normal position, if you don't mind, but if you want to stand there, staring at that pensieve memory for longer, you just go right ahead." Harry finished with a little smirk. As Neville backed up, Lily's portrait closed, Lily who was straightening herself up, looked down at Neville and then at the shinny bottle.
"Ohh my, what could that possibly be?" said Lily as she looked just as surprised as Neville was only not as nervous or scared before continuing, " I am so sorry boys, I know you were hoping on finding that prophecy, but that isn't it. The prophecy looks like a small sphere, similar to ummm…a remembrall, if you know what that is?" finished Lily as she looked from Harry to Neville, noticing the looks and smiles that were forming on their faces, she was sure she was missing some inside information as Neville finally spoke.
"Yeah…Mrs. Potter, we know what a remembrall is, I for one wish I hadn't." said Neville jokingly as he looked back down at the glass bottle that was firmly held in his grasp. His smirk slowly formed from that of mirth, to a face of worry and fear. Believing that he had some what of a clue as to what was going on, Harry walked over and placed a hand on Neville's shoulder as he spoke.
"It's going to be alright Nev, whatever it is, we'll face it together, besides, it could only have been found by both a Potter and a Longbottom, so it was meant for us." Harry finished assuredly. Neville just nodded that he heard what Harry said, but he wasn't convinced.
"I know Harry…..it's just….I ….I….well I mean….I don't remember my parents very much…..what if…what if this is some memory of them all happy and having a good time…..I just….I don't know if I'm ready for that yet….It's hard for me to talk about my feelings towards them." finished Neville as he stared at his feet feeling completely embarrassed. Looking up at Harry to judge his reaction to hearing his fear, he noticed a far away look in Harry's eyes, Neville followed Harry's line of vision until he was led back to the portrait of Lily, and then Neville almost smacked himself in the forehead, how could he be so self centered.
"I'm so sorry Harry, …I wasn't thinking….I mean listen to me…whining about not knowing my parents when at least I still have them apart of my life….even if it is only in a physical way…. I mean ….well…..if anyone could understand what I am feeling..it would be you." said Neville with a slight smile. Harry looked back at Neville shaking away thoughts of what life would have been like with his parents still alive, he smiled back at Neville before calmly walking up to him and looking him right in the eyes.
"No Nev, your wrong, I have no idea what life has been like for you. How it feels to visit them, time after time and be reminded of the pain those bastard Death Eaters put your family through. But after seeing a memory of my mother for the first time, I'm starting to get an inkling of what your talking about. But there is one thing I have learned over and over again, and that's life isn't fair, at least not for our generation. All because of one crazy psychopath that decided long ago to wage a war on all of wizarding England. So the way I see it, we really only have two choices, fight or flee. I don't know about you, but I'm really tired of running and hiding. This is a war, and my life may turn to shit or even end, but I refuse to go quietly. I will make sure they never forget the name Potter." Harry finished with fierce determination, so much in fact that Neville could see powerful magic rolling off of him in waves. Neville had never seen such power before and as he stared into Harry's eyes, he felt a surge of power deep within himself. Riding on the coattails of this new found strength, Neville decided that he had to be strong in this war, for his family, for himself.
Neville's face turned from timid to total determination as he spoke. " Make that Potter and Longbottom." he finished while holding out the pensieve memory for Harry to take from him before he continued, "So what do you say, you ready to see this memory that was meant for only us?"
Harry smirked as he took the bottle from Neville, he always knew there was a fierce wizard hidden in their somewhere. Neville added a little less confidently, "There is one other thing Harry, I have only ever entered a pensive memory one other time and it wasn't very enjoyable. So if I mess up or do something wrong just tell me okay?"
Harry laughed as he said, " don't worry, I know exactly what your talking about. My first time, I had no idea what was going on and I was a little freaked out to say the least. It really is pretty simple, I'll explain everything to you but Nev, do you even have a pensieve around here somewhere?"
Neville thought for a second before answering, "My Gran does, but she keeps it locked up when she leaves town." before both boys could figure out what to do next, they were interrupted by a voice they completely forgot was still there.
"Not to worry, Harry has one. I took the liberty of removing it from your vault in preparation for your new school trunk which I will be picking up tomorrow. It is currently shrunk and sitting in your closet sir with the other supplies." finished Dobby with a proud smile.
"Dobby!…you brilliant little elf you" said Harry as he rushed over to Dobby and engulfed him in a hug, lifting him off the ground to Dobby's protest. Finally setting him down Harry was about to ask Dobby to retrieve it for them before he was interrupted by Dobby.
"Before you even ask it Harry, I will NOT retrieve it for you, if you want the pensieve, you will have to return home to get it. I refuse to take any more verbal beatings by those vicious information demanding girls you call friends." Dobby finished stubbornly as he crossed his arms across his chest in a show of defiance.
Neville and Lily were holding in their laughter as Harry just smirked at Dobby, thinking over his options, Harry had a good idea and decided to go for it, even though Neville was voting on returning to Harrington Palace so he could meet these famous hot girl friends but Harry knew they would want an information debriefing, and it would be hours before they got to enter the pensieve. Plus, his idea had a little bonus involved, it would teach Dobby to never question another command again.
Smirking at the defiant Dobby, Harry spoke out loud to Dobby's shocked face, "WINKY" instantly, Winky arrived silently right before Harry.
"Yes Master Harry, are you okay, what is it you need from me sir that Dobby here could not provide" asked Winky as she looked curiously over at Dobby who was bashfully staring at the ground.
Harry was loving it, watching Dobby squirm under Winky's glare, he would think twice before disobeying him in the future. "Actually Winky, I need you to retrieve the Potter Pensieve, which Dobby has shrunken and stored in my closet back at Harrington Palace." Finished Harry as he watched Winky's expression harden towards Dobby.
"Yes Master, I can retrieve the pensieve for you, but it is still not clear why Dobby could not do this, I was quite busy keeping the girls distracted, they have been worrying about you all night." said Winky.
" I know they have Winky, and I really do appreciate everything you have done today to make things easier for me, as for Dobby here…" Harry paused as he watched Dobby squirm a little more before continuing, "Dobby is a little exhausted, magically, and I thought you could do us this little favor so he didn't have too, but if it's a problem or something, I'm sure Dobby can do it." As Harry finished talking, he noticed Dobby's demeanor changed completely as he was nodding to Winky that he agreed with Harry.
"That will not be necessary master, I will return shortly, is there anything you wish me to pass on to the girls that will attack me upon my arrival?" asked Winky as Dobby visibly began to relax.
"Yes actually there is, tell them not to worry, I am completely fine, maybe a little tired but totally fine. I will not be returning home tonight, so they are welcome to sleep over or you can return them home, either way is fine with me. Also, Tell them that our training session for tomorrow will be cancelled because I have a few things to take care of, so I will call them sometime tomorrow after I return home." finished Harry as Winky just nodded that she understood before she vanished silently.
" Umm Harry…I've been meaning to ask you…why is it that your House Elf's seem to somehow, do magic that no other House Elf can do, like apparating silently?" asked Neville as the portrait of Lily was nodding her head to signify that she was thinking the same thing.
Harry and Dobby looked to each other, not sure how to respond to that question. Harry had intended to do some research regarding that very thing, but he hadn't had any time lately to really look into it, he was about to say that very thing before Dobby interrupted him and changed the subject.
" Harry, Thank You for keeping me out of trouble with Winky, she would have been extremely upset with me for ignoring a command….I will not question your judgment again Lord Potter-Black." Finished Dobby as Harry smiled, he had won this little battle between friends, he was sure there would be others, and he was looking forward to them.
"That's what I am talking about Harry, Dobby completely refused to retrieve the pensieve even after you commanded it, I have never seen a House Elf disobey an order without severe punishment, and the way you two banter back and forth, it's almost like you guys are more friends then…" Neville stopped his line of thinking as Winky silently appeared before them as she looked between Neville on one side and Harry & Dobby on the other side.
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?" asked Winky as all three in question shook their heads no. "Where would you like me to place the pensieve?" asked Winky. Harry looked to Neville who thought about it for a second before he said, "why don't we head for my office, I think that will be a good place for us to enter." finished Neville as some of his nerves were starting to return as he lead the way to his personal office area.
After Winky had placed the re-sized pensieve on Neville's desk, she said her goodbyes to the group and vanished, leaving a smiling Dobby, a Confident Harry, and one slightly less confident looking Neville, all starring at the pensieve.
Harry decided to get things rolling, he turned and faced Dobby as he spoke, "I want you to return to the Palace for the night, if I need anything I will call you. If the girls are still there, tell them not to worry, but don't tell them anything else. I haven't decided how much to disclose yet, and I wont know until later, so keep it zipped, and pass that onto Winky for me." Harry finished and Dobby was about to say something, but then decided against it and disappeared.
An awkward silence began to grow very quickly until it was smashed by a very confident
Neville who shouted, "All right, let's do this!" while clapping his hands and letting out a
large exhale. Harry had to chuckle, seeing Neville hype himself up like this was not
something Harry had ever seen before, but we all have our techniques he thought before
saying, "yeah Nev, let's go …..back to the future." Harry finished as he emptied the
memory into the pensieve and watched it swirl and swoosh around before looking over to
Neville.
Walking up to the pensieve, Neville looked down at the silverish liquid and stared at it for a few seconds. He then looked up to Harry with a very determined look on his face and nodded. Harry nodded back, and the two boys leaned over and entered the pensieve.
The first thing Harry noticed was that it was really dark wherever they were, standing up, Harry looked around for Neville. Spotting him standing up about five feet to his right, Harry called out to him, "Hey Nev, over here." Neville walked over to where Harry was while looking around the small room they were in.
"This is kind of weird Nev, usually there is someone within seeing distance upon entry, I mean this is someone's memory right?" Harry asked out loud as Neville was still exploring the room with his eyes.
"I think we are somewhere in the Castle, Hogwarts I mean." said Neville as Harry nodded that he agreed when suddenly a small door opened across the room, and with it came a blinding light that made both boys cover their eyes with there hands. When the light subsided, they looked up to what looked to be a meeting, sitting at a small table was Albus Dumbledore, Lily & James Potter, Alice & Frank Longbottom, Remus, Sirius, and Peter, and three other people Harry didn't recognize. Before Harry could say something to Neville, he was interrupted by some light giggles, looking towards where the sound was coming from, Harry and Neville stood frozen as they glanced at what was making that noise, sitting in two magical high chairs, were two very little babies.
As Albus began to talk, Harry was snapped out of his stupor, tapping Neville on the shoulder, Harry made way closer to the table with Neville on his heals. When they reached the table, they listened in to the conversation as Albus was speaking, both trying their hardest to pay attention and not stare blindly at their long lost parents.
"I know you are both really scared at what this new prophecy has predicted, but let me assure you, that there is nothing to worry about, prophecies do not always come true."
The Headmaster finished as he smiled with that Grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes. Harry was beginning to hate that twinkle.
"But Albus, this prophecy is different, I have never heard of one so specific, I mean it mentioned both boys by name, and as for their powers it's just…" But Lily was cut off from finishing that thought by Albus.
"Calm yourself Lily, I know what the prophecy stated, and I assure you that it has no bearing as to our mission. Those boys will hopefully grow up healthy, never knowing the pain of a war that they were born into."
"Albus, we must take stock of this new information, with the specifics given, we could finally shift the momentum of this war in our favor for the first time in years." stated Frank as the others all nodded their heads that they completely agreed.
"Look, Lily and I took some time dissecting this new prophecy, most of the specifics are very clear as to whom it is referring to, but there is this one line, in the middle that we had trouble deciphering who it could be talking about." The true power behind the Dark Lord lies within his biggest secret, for the light will shade, spreading blackness throughout, making him the true power behind the throne.
"Who is that referring to Albus, the power behind the throne? Could there be someone behind Riddle calling the shots?" asked Sirius as the entire table looked onto the Headmaster for his wisdom.
"It is hard to say, that is the thing with prophecies, they are so vague, they could be referring to a hidden power that Voldermort has or it could mean a hundred different things. The thing you must remember about prophecies is that they only matter if you take stock in them, by hearing this prophecy, you are already taking measures that will help in making it come true. If you had never heard this prophecy, most likely it would never come true. The best advice I can give you in regards to this prophecy, is to do nothing, in time it will become irrelevant." Albus finished confidently as he declared this meeting over by rising from his seat and excusing himself, saying that he had some school business to attend to and left the room.
The remaining people sitting at the table never moved, they sat quietly looking to one another as to how to proceed. "Something is not adding up, Albus knows more then he is letting on, I can feel it." said Sirius as Remus was staring at the door Albus just left as if wishing he would return and tell them what they should do next.
"Do nothing…this prophecy was very specific and I for one plan to take measure to protect my baby, Do Nothing…He can't be serious!" finished Alice with a very stern look on her face.
"Of course he isn't serious, I'm Sirius!" said the Black Heir with a smug smirk as everyone chuckled except for Lily who smacked Sirius hard on the shoulder for making a joke at this time, especially a joke as lame as that one. "For Pete's sake Sirius, don't you think that one is a little played out?"
"Wait… what does Peter have to do with it?" asked Sirius. This made everyone laugh again, even Alice was amused at how easily Sirius could get under Lily's skin. "Will you quit playing around, we are talking about the lives of our children, Harry and Neville, remember them?" asked Lily as everyone turned to look at the two bouncing boys giggling and playing down at the other end of the table.
"I know Lills and I am sorry, you know I care about them deeply, it's just I thought the atmosphere needed a little tension breaker." said Sirius as looked to Lily helplessly.
"Everyone at this table has nothing but the best intensions for Harry and Neville, otherwise we wouldn't even be here, with that out of the way, lets get back to the topic James mentioned earlier, The power behind the throne." said Frank
"It is possible that there could be someone over Riddle, but the fact that Albus wouldn't even question that is what has me worried." said Lily
"What exactly did this second prophecy state, and for that matter, I never really heard the first prophecy entirely?" asked Peter as James and Lily shared a look with one another as did Frank and Alice.
"We have decided that the less people who know the specifics of those two prophecies, the better, sorry Peter but we are not telling anyone, even Sirius doesn't know." said James as the others just nodded along that they completely understood keeping those prophecies secret.
"We do have record of the second prophecy, but it is kept in the most secretive place only Frank and I know. Right now I think we need to discuss the measures Lily and I must take to ensure the safety of our boys." Finished Alice
Harry walked around to the other side of the table as the group began to discuss how they were going to protect the two infants, he walked over towards the three people he didn't know and turned to Neville who was listening to his mother talk with rapt attention and tears in his eyes and asked, "Hey Nev, do you know who any of these three people are?"
Neville slowly turned his head without taking his eyes off of his mother until the last second, looking over the three people, Neville shook his head no and went back to listening to the group discuss their safety measures when suddenly the door banged open and that blinding light once again disrupted their vision. When it subsided, Harry and Neville witnessed a very strange occurrence. The Headmaster had re-entered the room and did a very rare, mass oblivate spell, Harry and Neville were stunned.
Once everyone had a blank look on their faces, Albus lowered his wand as one of the three strangers spoke, "It's about time, I was afraid they were going to leave before you returned, what took you so long?" asked the unknown stranger.
"I had to take care of the others who have heard the entire prophecy, the last remaining people are in this room, once I have finished, I will be the only one who knows of the details of the second Prophecy." said Albus with a slight smirk on his face.
"Don't you mean you and I will be the only ones who know of the prophecy." said the unknown stranger with a huge smile, a smile that was slowly disappearing as he watched Albus raise his wand and point it right at the stranger's forehead. "No …I had it right the first time…I will be the only one…information as important as this…needs to remain safe…and as I am the only one with the knowledge, I can assure it remains safe until it is no longer applicable. Sorry old chap." finished Dumbledore as he obliviated the last person with the knowledge of the second prophecy.
Harry and Neville just stood completely dazed, Harry had guessed that the Headmaster would protect the knowledge of the prophecy, but obliviating his fellow peers and close friends, Harry would have never guessed that he was capable of that, but he was beginning to figure out that there was a lot that he didn't know about the Headmaster.
Harry watched as Albus finished with his manipulations and left the room. It only took a few minutes for everyone to snap out of it as they all looked to each other completely confused. As Lily and James began to discuss why they were all here for they couldn't remember why, Alice stood up from the table and excused herself for a minute with Frank leaving seconds afterwards, following his wife. Neville and Harry knew something was up and immediately went after them.
Leaving the room, Neville noticed Frank and Alice just entered another room just down the hall. Running towards the door, Neville walked right through it with Harry right behind him. Once Harry entered the room, he looked over near the window ceil where he found Frank and Alice sitting closely together talking, with Neville sitting cross legged right at their legs. Harry walked over just as Alice began to speak.
Neville leaned in to whisper to Harry that Frank had just asked Alice what had happened, he somehow knew that they had been obliviated . Both boys turned to Alice to hear her explanation. Alice was clutching her necklace tightly while she began to talk, "It was the Headmaster Frank, I don't know what his motives are, but if it wasn't for our family heirloom, who knows how far he would have gotten… we have to do something." finished Alice as she was beginning to panic.
" I wish I could help you my love, but I had no protection on, so I have no idea what you are talking about, but as I said before, I trust you completely, if you say the Headmaster has obliviated me, then he has, what we have to do is…." But Frank was interrupted by a flashing blue light that was pulsating from Alice's necklace. Both Alice and Franks expressions looked panicked. It was Frank that declared what she must do…and do quickly.
"It's wearing off, the Headmaster is awfully powerful, I don't think the protection charms on that necklace is strong enough to stop the Headmaster." As Alice looked to Frank with even more concern, Frank Continued. "You have to pull out the memory before the charms on the necklace completely fade away, taking with it, the memory. Alice immediately withdrew her wand while Frank conjured a glass vial to store the memory.
Just before Alice removed the memory she stated out loud, "Neville…..Harry….if you are viewing this memory, and Heaven help us I hope you never have to….but if you are and you are searching for answers…I suggest you start with your family roots….and hopefully I am still around to guide you through what's to come….but if I am not…remember that your Father and I love you very much…and you will find a clue to what you seek hidden within the yellow and the pink." Alice smiled as she placed the tip of her wand to her temple, just as her wand was making contact, Harry and Neville ejected out of the pensieve with force and both stood still gasping air, taking in everything they just learned.
Harry looked to Neville who seemed to be lost in thought, Harry wasn't sure what to make of all this new information, deciding to break the awkwardness, Harry said, "Do you have any idea what that clue means, a clue to what you seek, is hidden within the yellow and the pink.?" asked Harry.
"That's just what I was thinking about, the first thing that came into my mind is….but that can't be…. it's so silly, it must be something else." said Neville as he let out some frustration.
"No Neville, you must learn to always trust your instincts, especially your first gut reaction, it's saved my ass too many times to count. What was it that you were first thinking about?" Harry asked
"Well….it's just…when I visit my parents….my mom always gives me her used bubblegum wrappers….but I don't know….it's just.." But Neville was interrupted.
"What color are those bubblegum wrappers Nev?" asked Harry
"Yellow and pink" said Neville confidently before remembering something and bolting from the room. Harry looked on in silence for a second before running after Neville yelling out to him to slow down. Finally catching up to Neville as he re-entered his parents office, he confidently walked up to the desk and placed his hand on the top, waiting for Harry to catch on, which he did. Once the magic drawers revealed themselves again, Neville riffled through the paperwork, looking for something specific as Harry just looked on.
"I got it!" said Neville excitedly as he waved around some parchment as he walked over to a seat and sat down. Harry walked over and sat next to him as he asked, " and what is it exactly that you have found Nev?"
" This, it's a listing off all the Longbottom properties and holdings, look at the business the Longbottom family owns, the fourth one down on the right." said Neville as he handed Harry the parchment. As Harry looked at what it said, his smile grew before he looked away from the parchment and onto a smiling Neville as he said, "Well I think we will have to take a little trip tomorrow, to one of the businesses you own, Chewies Bubblegum Factory."